But home – real home, not professional home – was always in Connecticut, where St. Louis’ wife’s family is from and where his three young boys go to school. He has a house there, and that’s where he will be this Dec. 25, with his own side of the family, now one short, coming in from Montreal.

“I don’t think it’s time to reflect right now,” St. Louis said. “I did all my reflection last summer.”

The summer was short for the Rangers as they went on an unexpected run to within three wins of a championship. And a big reason was St. Louis, whose play on the ice and leadership in the locker room were bedrocks for a team lacking big-time postseason experience.

“He was always just himself, and that was the beauty of having him join our team last year – he came in and tried to be himself right away, didn’t try to change who he was,” first-year captain Ryan McDonagh told The Post. “Guys really fed off that, the way he approached practice, the way he approaches games, it never changes. It seems like the same Marty I’ve seen since Day 1. If he says he’s a little more comfortable, that’s good.”

That’s exactly the way St. Louis feels, even if he’s not going out of his way to make it happen.

“I don’t think you can force leadership,” he said. “I think you just have to be yourself, and I’ve been more myself this year, I guess.”

Even if the change has been slight, it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Last year, he came in, the team was on a roll, he just wanted to play,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “But this year, we need that [leadership] from him. He took a big role last year, but right off the hop this year, we assume what he is – a great veteran player that knows the right things to do and the right things to say.”

McDonagh remembered times during the playoffs when St. Louis would stand up in team-wide meetings and relay his experience, telling his team one win can change the complexion of a whole series, no matter which team held the momentum.

“What he was saying was coming true on the ice,” McDonagh said. “He’s seen a lot in his career so far, so usually what he’s saying is something he’s seen in the past. So it’s important for everyone to listen and take note of that and try to install it into their game.”

The almost unspeakable reality around the Blueshirts is this might be St. Louis’ last go-around. Set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, he wasn’t exactly willing to broach the subject.

“I think I still want to play,” St. Louis said, “but I’m still focused on this year.”

It would be hard to conceive of this Rangers team without him. If general manager Glen Sather can’t find an amiable middle ground somewhere near the $5.65 million cap hit he carried this season, then there would be quite a bit of money available to sign a replacement.

But a replacement for everything else St. Louis has brought?

“For the short amount of time here,” St. Louis said, “it feels like I’ve been here much longer than that.”